Request strategies in Korean

Abstract

This study examines the speech act of request in Korean. The methodology adapts the principles used by the Cross-Cultural Speech Act Realization Project (CCSARP, Blum-Kulka et al, 1989), but a slightly modified version of its coding system is used in order to suit the Korean language. Data has been collected in a workplace setting, through video-taping of role-plays. In the recording of the role-platys, three role-play scenarios were performed by Korean participants who were working at medium-sized companies with white-collar environments.The study shows that Korean request strategies are chosen primarily according to power status, the higher the power status of the addressee, the more indirect request strategy is preferred. Korean speakers appear to be more indirect to the addressees who are superiors and equal work members than to juniors. Another discovery, hardly explored in previous studies, is that hints are used extensively in this study and corresponding to the level of power ranks as well: the lower power rank of the addressee, the less preference of strong hint is displayed.